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Pioneers in the fields of public relations and communication academia gathered at an academic forum running alongside the main Federation of African PR Associations (FAPRA) conference last week to discuss the future public relations curriculum to be offered on tertiary level.

Black Earth Communications has applied for a commercial broadcasting license with the Botswana National Broadcasting Board and is awaiting the outcome of its application for a new subscription pay TV service to Africa that will operate out of Gaborone.

Stanbic Bank is encouraging people living in Uganda, Namibia, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Botswana to look for inspiring success stories and nominate community-based projects for cash donations to acknowledge local nation-builders.

Kaone, the winner of the 2005 Nokia Face of Africa, has signed with Marcus Brewster Publicity. Winner of a $125 000 contract with Storm Model Management, the Botswana beauty will benefit from a PR campaign to elevate and market her profile in Southern Africa.

Exhibition organizers South Africa Rai have announced that the company is to launch leading décor and design expo Decorex SA in Botswana as part of a drive to bring the best of the best in African décor to the rest of the continent. Decorex Botswana will be hosted at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, The Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort, from 21 to 24 October 2005.

Yarona FM 106.6, Botswana's youngest radio station, is this week celebrating its first five years of broadcasting with the opening of new state-of-the-art studios in the upmarket Fairground Mall complex in Gaborone.

Internet-based network service provider, UUNET SA, will be running a 2Mb line from Johannesburg connecting with Cape Town, Botswana and Namibia which will enable real-time, live streaming Webcast advertisements from UUNET offices around Africa during the Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches.

Diamond giant De Beers, who announced an advertising partnership with supermodel and businesswoman Iman at the 55th Cannes Film Festival, has denied reports that she has pulled out in protest over the alleged treatment of the San people in Botswana.

Students from the AAA School of Advertising are cycling from Botswana to Cape Town this month to raise money for child burn victims and to raise awareness about the dangers of burns. They are looking for additional sponsors.

Newtrust Company Botswana Limited (NCBL) has acquired an 87.5 per cent shareholding in M&G Media Limited from Guardian Newspapers Limited and as a result has become the majority shareholder of the company. Guardian Newspapers Limited will continue to hold a 10 per cent shareholding in M&G Media Limited (M&G).